Pelley appears at pre-trial hearing

Trial set for July 10 in 1989 slayings of Lakeville family members.

Trial set for July 10 in 1989 slayings of Lakeville family members.

June 10, 2006|PATRICK M. O'CONNELL Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- Jeff Pelley appeared in St. Joseph Superior Court on Friday, nearly one month before his long-awaited trial is set to begin. Pelley, black hair slicked back and dressed in a dark suit, stood in front of Judge Roland W. Chamblee Jr. for the pre-trial hearing with one of his attorneys, Andre Gammage. The hearing did not alter the status of Pelley's murder trial, which is scheduled to start July 10. Pelley is charged with the April 29, 1989, shotgun killings of his father, the Rev. Robert Pelley; his stepmother, Dawn; and his stepsisters, Janel and Jolene. Pelley was not charged until 2002, and a series of legal maneuvers has led to the four-year delay in bringing the case to trial. During Friday's brief hearing, Chamblee reinforced his ruling denying a defense motion to have an appeals court review the judge's rejection of motions to dismiss the trial. The defense argued delays in the trial have been prejudicial to Pelley and violated his rights. Attorneys exchanged lengthy lists of potential witnesses before the hearing and Gammage said he anticipated Chamblee's decision on the denial ruling. The trial for the intensely publicized case is expected to last several weeks. Pelley was a 17-year-old high school senior in 1989 when his four family members were found shot to death inside their Lakeville home. Although authorities always considered Pelley a suspect in the case, he was not arrested until August 2002, when he was charged with four counts of murder. Authorities allege Pelley killed his family members because he was upset his father had grounded him from attending after-prom activities. Pelley, accompanied by private investigator Scott Campbell, left the courthouse Friday morning without speaking to reporters.